The Ballot Brief
St. Clair County, Michigan

St. Clair County Commissioner, District 5, Partial Term Ending 12/31/2028

As of November 4, 2026, 105.5 WPHM reported that Paul Zeller led the race for St. Clair County Commissioner, District 5, Partial Term Ending 12/31/2028; the result is unofficial until Michigan certifies it on November 23. See where Yope and Zeller stand on roads, the budget and health care. Names follow official St. Clair County election filings. Certified results will appear here once the election office certifies the count. Michigan certifies the general election by November 23, 2026; county canvasses are due November 17.

About this race

A partisan special election to fill the remainder of a vacated commission term, distinct from the regular county commission cycle (last elected countywide in 2024), per the St. Clair County Clerk's official candidate list. This contest is on the November 3, 2026 ballot.

What this office does

County commissioner. The county board is the county's legislative and, in most states, executive body. Commissioners adopt the county budget and property tax rate, oversee roads, the jail, public health, planning and zoning in unincorporated areas, and appoint or confirm department heads. In counties with an elected county executive or judge, the board's role is mainly the budget and ordinances.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot.

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Michigan › St. Clair County › St. Clair County Commissioner, District 5, Partial Term Ending 12/31/2028

Who won? The official answer comes November 23.

Michigan makes results final in three steps.
✓
Done · Nov 3
Votes were cast and counted
Election night totals are a first count, not the final one.
2
Happening now · by Nov 17
St. Clair County double-checks its count
The county reviews mail ballots, provisional ballots and any recount, then sends official totals to the state.
3
Next · Nov 23
Michigan makes it official
The Board of State Canvassers certifies the result. The winner appears on this page that day.

What local news is reporting

Not official yetUpdated November 4, 2026

This report is cited to the outlet that published it. We do not call races.

St. Clair County Commissioner, District 5, Partial Term Ending 12/31/2028
Paul Zeller led the race for St. Clair County Commissioner, District 5, Partial Term Ending 12/31/2028 with 63.97% to 35.81%, all 62 of 62 precincts reporting (unofficial), 105.5 WPHM reported.105.5 WPHM, “St. Clair County Unofficial Election Results”, November 4, 2026. Unofficial until certified.

Reports are checked daily until Michigan certifies on November 23; a certified winner replaces the report on that day.

Dorothy Yope

Democratic

Top priorities

From the campaign site

  • Restore confidence in health department leadership through evidence-based decisions
  • End backroom deals and require transparency before commitments
  • Repair and maintain roads, bridges, and other infrastructure
Biography

Dorothy Yope is a teacher, school counselor, and psychotherapist who has lived in St. Clair Township for 24 years, per her campaign site. She is the Democratic candidate for St. Clair County Commissioner, District 5. Dorothy Yope appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for St. Clair County Commissioner, District 5, Partial Term Ending 12/31/2028, per the county clerk's certified candidate list.

Paul Zeller

Republican

Biography

Paul Zeller holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Michigan State University and a MIDV from Wesley Seminary, per the St. Clair County website. He serves as Lead Chaplain at the St. Clair County Jail with Reach the Forgotten Jail Ministry and chairs the county's Community and Economic Development Committee, per the same source. Paul Zeller appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for St. Clair County Commissioner, District 5, Partial Term Ending 12/31/2028, per the county clerk's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.

Next on the ballotJudge of Court of Appeals, 4th District

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Questions about this race

Who is running for St. Clair County Commissioner, District 5, Partial Term Ending 12/31/2028 in 2026?

As of November 4, 2026, 105.5 WPHM reported that Paul Zeller led the race for St. Clair County Commissioner, District 5, Partial Term Ending 12/31/2028; the result is unofficial until Michigan certifies it on November 23. 2 candidates were tracked for St. Clair County Commissioner, District 5, Partial Term Ending 12/31/2028 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Dorothy Yope and Paul Zeller. Candidate information follows official St. Clair County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below. See where they stand on roads, the budget and health care.

When is the St. Clair County Commissioner, District 5, Partial Term Ending 12/31/2028 election in Michigan?

Election Day was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Certified results will appear on this page as the election office certifies them. Michigan certifies the general election by November 23, 2026; county canvasses are due November 17. Voting rules for Michigan are on the Michigan election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact St. Clair County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Who won the St. Clair County Commissioner, District 5, Partial Term Ending 12/31/2028 race?

As of November 4, 2026, 105.5 WPHM reported that Paul Zeller led the race for St. Clair County Commissioner, District 5, Partial Term Ending 12/31/2028; the result is unofficial until Michigan certifies it on November 23. Source: 105.5 WPHM, "St. Clair County Unofficial Election Results", November 4, 2026. We do not call races.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official St. Clair County and state election office filings, last verified October 24, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Michigan election office, or see the full St. Clair County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your St. Clair County ballot

37 tracked races in St. Clair County, Michigan. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on the November 3 ballot
St. Clair County Judge of Circuit Court, 31st Circuit, Incumbent PositionSt. Clair County Judge of Probate Court, Incumbent PositionSt. Clair County Judge of District Court, 72nd District, Incumbent PositionSee all 37 St. Clair County races
Candidate profiles
Dorothy Yope, full profilePaul Zeller, full profileOfficial Michigan election office